Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic.He is widely regarded as the greatest and most influential writer in the German language, and his work has had a profound and wide-ranging influence on Western literary, political, and philosophical thought from the late 18th century to the present day.

Early Life and Education

Goethe was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, to a wealthy patrician family. His father, Johann Caspar Goethe, was a lawyer and magistrate, and his mother, Katharina Elisabeth Textor, was the daughter of a wealthy merchant. Goethe received a classical education at the Frankfurt Gymnasium, where he studied Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.

Literary Career

Goethe began his literary career as a poet. His first major work, The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774), was a novel that tells the story of a young man who commits suicide after being rejected by the woman he loves. The novel was a huge success and made Goethe an overnight celebrity.

Goethe went on to write a number of other important works, including the play Faust (1808), the novel Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship (1795-1821), and the poem cycle West-östlicher Divan (1819).

Scientific Interests

Goethe was also a keen scientist. He made important contributions to the fields of botany, mineralogy, and optics. He also developed a new theory of color, which was based on his observation that colors are not fixed but are constantly changing.

Political Career

Goethe served as a diplomat and statesman for the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. He was a close friend of the duke, Karl August, and he played a significant role in the government of the duchy.

Legacy

Goethe is considered one of the greatest writers in the German language. His work has had a profound and wide-ranging influence on Western literary, political, and philosophical thought from the late 18th century to the present day.

Key Works

• Die Leiden des jungen Werthers (The Sorrows of Young Werther, 1774)
• Faust (1808)
• Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre (Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, 1795-1821)
• West-östlicher Divan (West-Eastern Divan, 1819)
• Faust II (1832)

Quotes

• "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."